- Gift Cards for Terrorists: How an 18-Year-Old Tried to Fund ISIS!
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/gift-cards-terrorists-how-18-year-old-tried-fund-isis
Location: United States
In a chilling twist of youthful naivety and sinister intentions, 18-year-old Mateo Ventura from Massachusetts found himself ensnared in legal jeopardy after attempting to fund ISIS using gift cards. Through encrypted messaging, Ventura unwittingly sent approximately $1,670 worth of gift cards to an FBI undercover agent posing as an ISIS sympathizer. Prosecutors assert that Ventura intended for these gift cards to be sold on the dark web to financially support ISIS. Astonishingly, Ventura allegedly sent an audio message in which he pledged his allegiance to the terrorist group. Furthermore, he attempted to negotiate with the FBI, offering insider information on ISIS in exchange for $10 million. Despite the evidence against him, Mateo’s father, Paul Ventura, maintains his son’s innocence, attributing the misunderstanding to his learning and developmental disabilities. “My son said, ‘Dad, I don’t understand, I didn’t do anything wrong,’” Paul recounts of the moment the FBI arrested Mateo, reflecting the family's shock and disbelief at the charges.
- Spiritual U-Turn: Are Youth in the Middle East Embracing Religion Again?
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/spiritual-u-turn-are-youth-middle-east-embracing-religion-again
Location: Middle East
In a world where religious adherence seems to be waning, an intriguing resurgence in religiosity among the youth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has been highlighted by the Arab Barometer, a reputed non-profit research network known for its comprehensive surveys on societal trends in the Arab world. According to its seventh wave of surveys conducted between 2021 and 2022, a striking majority of the citizens in the MENA region self-identify as “religious” or “somewhat religious.” Notably, in countries like Tunisia and Libya, there has been a decline in the number of people describing themselves as "not religious" from earlier surveys – from 31% to 27% in Tunisia, and from 25% to 24% in Libya between 2018-2019 and 2021-2022. However, Lebanon stands out as an exception, where those claiming non-religiosity increased from 14% to 19%. Additionally, engaging in religious practices has seen an uptick, with a considerable percentage of young people turning to holy texts daily. This ‘Spiritual U-Turn’ offers a stark contrast to the secularization trend in regions like Europe and North America and reflects the dynamic nature of religious beliefs in the Arab world.
- ‘Business Jihad’: The Plot to Drive Out Religious Minorities in India
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/business-jihad-plot-drive-out-religious-minorities-india
Location: India
In the Indian state of Uttarakhand, escalating tensions between Hindus and Muslims culminated in the forced exodus of many Muslims from the town of Purola, following an incident that reignited allegations of “love jihad” and spurred a new conspiracy termed “business jihad.” This unfolded after two men, one being Muslim, were accused of kidnapping a Hindu girl, inciting the right-wing Hindu groups to mobilize against the Muslim community. Amid the atmosphere of fear and violence, Muslim-owned businesses were targeted and vandalized. Zahid Malik, a Muslim member of the ruling Hindu-nationalist leaning Bharatiya Janata Party who had been living in Purola for over 30 years, recounted his harrowing experience: “I had no option but to leave because there were clear threats that we will be harmed if we don’t leave before June 15. Even though I am associated with the ruling party, sadly, I did not get any help from the administration.”
- Birthplace of Martyrs: The Afghan Valley that Idolizes Its Suicide Bombers
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/birthplace-martyrs-afghan-valley-idolizes-its-suicide-bombers
Location: Afghanistan
In a haunting echo of devotion to a chilling cause, the lush Tangi Valley in Afghanistan celebrates its legacy as the "Birthplace of Martyrs," where young men dream of becoming suicide bombers. Ismail Ashuqullah, a former Taliban fighter and local to the valley, wistfully recounted to news agency AFP his own missed opportunity to be a suicide bomber, stating, "When I was informed by my superiors that I had to join the battalion, I was delighted that God had chosen me. I felt a lot of joy." This valley, strategically located near Kabul and once a stronghold of the Taliban, is steeped in a culture that reveres martyrdom through suicide attacks. Though the Taliban claims these attacks targeted foreign and Afghan troops, a UN report from 2019 highlighted the devastating reality: around 1,499 civilian casualties were attributed to Taliban suicide attacks.
- Christians & Muslims Unite in Forcing Kids into Anti-LGBT Protest
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/christians-muslims-unite-forcing-kids-anti-lgbt-protest
Location: Canada
In Ottawa, Canada, an unexpected coalition between Muslim and conservative Christian groups manifested in a protest against a directive by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board that supported the use of they/them pronouns for students until they express their preference. A video of the Muslim and conservative Christians protest was shared online, where Muslim women and other demonstrators encouraged young children to stomp on the Pride flags strewn on the ground. As the kids danced on the flags, an older white man was seen holding a large Canadian flag, leaning down to shake a kid’s hand in solidarity and saying, “Right on, boys,” while chants like “Leave our kids alone!” were heard in the background. A counter-protest ensued in support of LGBT rights. Emily Quail, an organizer, and a parent, expressed her resolve against the anti-LGBT demonstrations, stating, “We will not let them spread their transphobic, fascist ideology anywhere, here or anywhere else, and that starts with community strength, and that’s what I’m really proud to see today.” The school board and community members condemned the protests, emphasizing the concern over demonstrations targeting children.
- The Fiery Debate Over Islam’s Identity: Pakistan’s Intellectual Battle
Location: Pakistan
In a fiery intellectual showdown in Pakistan, ignited by a controversial policy mandating hijab for female students and teachers in Azad Kashmir, two columnists, Khurshid Nadeem and Shahnawaz Farooqui, grappled with Islam's identity and its societal role. Nadeem, in his piece "Everybody Has Their Own Islam," subtly criticized the policy and urged Pakistan to reassess its priorities, stating that Prophet Muhammad “raised societal standards so high” that practices like usury and slavery eventually became untenable. He also touched on the diversity of Islamic interpretations and the patriarchal inclinations in Muslim countries. In rebuttal, Farooqui, in "The Islam Of The Agents Of The West," defended traditional values and countered that core Islamic practices have remained steadfast since the Prophet's time, questioning the portrayal of patriarchy as inherently negative. He also accused the West of hypocrisy, asserting, “It is men that corrupt women,” and criticized its portrayal of women as sexualized entertainers rather than leaders. The two pieces and the hijab policy have collectively fueled a spirited debate on the interaction between Islam, culture, and Western perceptions.
- Artificial Evangelist: The Church That Turned to AI for Spiritual Guidance
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/artificial-evangelist-church-turned-ai-spiritual-guidance
Location: Germany
In an unprecedented experiment at St. Paul’s Church in Fuerth, Germany, an AI, ChatGPT, delivered a full church service complete with sermons, music, and prayers. The AI, orchestrated by Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher, addressed over 300 worshippers through multiple avatars displayed on a large screen. One of the avatars was a black-bearded man who appeared on a massive screen above the church's altar. This avatar addressed the congregation in a monotonous voice and with an expressionless face, stating, “Dear friends, it is an honor for me to stand here and preach to you as the first artificial intelligence at this year’s convention of Protestants in Germany.” Simmerlein shared, “I conceived this service — but actually I rather accompanied it because I would say about 98% comes from the machine.” Despite limitations such as emotionless delivery and the inability to respond to the audience's reactions, the event highlighted AI's potential in assisting religious leaders in crafting services.
- American Belief Crisis: Why More People Are Ditching God Than Ever Before!
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/american-belief-crisis-why-more-people-are-ditching-god-ever
Location: United States
Recent research points towards a striking shift in the American religious landscape, as certainty in God's existence has slipped from 60% in 2008 to just half of all citizens, according to a survey by the General Social Survey, carried out by NORC at the University of Chicago. It was also found that church attendance is at an all-time low at 34%. This growing trend of non-religiosity, which has seen a rise from 19% in 2012 to 27% in 2022, reflects a significant cultural transformation. However, even in the face of dwindling church membership, a solid 75% of Americans still maintain belief in an afterlife, revealing enduring spiritual inclinations. These findings, which mark an upward trend in non-denominational Protestantism, are leading experts like political scientist Ryan Burge to comment, “Belief is very stubborn in America today.” Meanwhile, Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, welcomes the increasing doubt among religious Americans, noting that the US is "catching up with many European countries" in its declining religiosity.
- United by Love: Taiwan's Step Toward Equality With LGBT Adoption Rights
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/united-love-taiwans-step-toward-equality-lgbt-adoption-rights
Location: Taiwan
Taiwan, already a trailblazer as the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, has taken another giant leap toward equality with its recent legalization of adoption rights for LGBT couples. The new law, passed on May 16th, allows such couples to jointly adopt children they have no biological relation to. Fan Yun, a DPP lawmaker instrumental in the bill's passage, jubilantly declared, “Legally, we have finally returned same-sex couples to their children. Parental love is the same, and only through joint adoption can we protect the rights and interests of each other by law.” The Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights also celebrated the move as a major step toward full marriage equality but emphasized the ongoing battles for assisted reproduction. This groundbreaking development further cements Taiwan's reputation as the most progressive country in Asia-Pacific for LGBT rights.
- Turning the Tide: Atheist Republic’s Fight for Iranian Human Rights
We are thrilled to share the exciting news that Susanna, the President and CEO of Atheist Republic, was recently invited by a member of her local Iranian-American community to participate in a meeting with US Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA). The purpose of the meeting was to advocate for the co-sponsorship of the MAHSA Act (HR Bill 589), a crucial piece of legislation that seeks to hold the leaders of Iran accountable for their human rights abuses. Susanna, who has been actively volunteering to support the community's efforts in raising awareness about these abuses, brought her expertise, passion, and insights into the desires of young people in Iran. We are proud to announce that Congressman Smith has agreed to support the bill! The MAHSA Act, currently in the House, aims to impose stricter penalties and sanctions on the Iranian regime, demonstrating our commitment to supporting the Iranian people and ensuring accountability. This accomplishment is a testament to our unwavering dedication to strengthening our community both inside and outside of Iran!